Egyptian Navy delivers military aid to Somalia escorted by stealth corvette Port Said.

According to information published by Russian sources on September 23, 2024, the Egyptian Navy has delivered substantial military assistance to Somalia.
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Egyptian Navy's Gowind class corvette ENS Port Said. (Picture source: French Ministry of Armed Forces)

The event, marked by the arrival of a large Egyptian military cargo ship at the port of Mogadishu, was accompanied by the Egyptian stealth corvette ENS Port Said, a Gowind-class vessel, which provided escort and security.

Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur welcomed the arrival, underlining the importance of the military aid and noting Somalia’s strategic choices in regional alliances. He emphasized that Somalia will align itself with those who best serve its interests.

Context

Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have escalated significantly in 2024, driven by several geopolitical and territorial disputes. One of the central issues is Ethiopia's agreement with Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia, to lease a 20-kilometer stretch of coastline. This deal, which provides Ethiopia with access to the Red Sea, has been met with sharp opposition from Somalia, which views the arrangement as a violation of its territorial integrity. Somalia refuses to recognize Somaliland's independence and sees this deal as undermining its sovereignty.

The situation worsened in recent months when Somalia accused Ethiopia of supplying weapons to the Puntland region, another semi-autonomous part of Somalia. These actions have sparked protests in Somalia, with political leaders calling for national unity and accusing Ethiopia of infringing on Somali sovereignty. In response, Somalia expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador and threatened to remove Ethiopian troops stationed within its borders, a significant move given their cooperation in combating Islamist insurgents in the region.

The situation worsened in recent months when Somalia accused Ethiopia of supplying weapons to the Puntland region, another semi-autonomous part of Somalia. These actions have sparked protests in Somalia, with political leaders calling for national unity and accusing Ethiopia of infringing on Somali sovereignty. In response, Somalia expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador and threatened to remove Ethiopian troops stationed within its borders, a significant move given their cooperation in combating Islamist insurgents in the region.